Jared James
By Jared James
We have come to that time of the year again, when you need to focus on your B.U.T. Not your butt – I am talking about your B.U.T., or Best Use of Time. It is amazing to me how many people will track their marketing dollars from the previous 12 months to see what actually worked and what didn’t, but won’t invest the energy to track their most invaluable resource of all… their time.
Time is your most valuable resource because it is the only thing that you can’t get back. If I lose money, I can gain it back. If I lose time, it is gone forever. We only get a certain amount of it within the totality of our lives. Think about that for a second – but not too long because you don’t want to waste any time.
Your best use of time has been the activities that you have done that have brought you the greatest return. Not just from a profit standpoint, but also from the perspective of what has brought you the most joy and peace in the last twelve months. I think we all can agree that we operate more often at our peak potential when everything seems to be in order in our personal lives as well. That is why it is important to understand that just like our cars need to stop and fill up on gas and have the occasional tune up, we need the same kind of maintenance if we expect to get the most out of ourselves. That may mean more time with your children or spouse, a renewed commitment to exercise, or just time alone to read or pray on a regular basis. For each person it may be different.
Having said this, I recommend that you write down your top four B.U.T.s for the last year. And instead of trying to implement 10 new strategies or tools into your business, just get better at what you already do well and scale those!
Last week, I wrote an article on my site about how your sphere of influence doesn’t make you money. It is actually all of the things that you did or continue to do to build your sphere of influence that make you money. The key is not to reinvent the wheel or completely change your business model. The key is to figure out what you are already doing well, what your top four B.U.T.s are, and increase your efforts in those areas in the coming year – and at least one of your B.U.T.s should have nothing to do with your profits in business at all!
Jared James is the CEO and founder of Jared James Enterprises (JJE) and travels around North America speaking to and coaching REALTORS®. Connect with Jared at www.jaredjamestoday.com, on facebook.com/jaredjamestoday, or follow him on Twitter @jaredjamestoday.
Anand Patel
By Anand Patel
Regardless of your preference in music it’s hard to turn on the radio today and not hear a song featuring the musician known as Pitbull. The Miami-born 31 year old artist is also a successful businessman who endorses (and in some cases holds equity ownership) Kodak, Bud Light, Voli Vodka, Sheets energy strips, Dr. Pepper and Zumba Fitness. It’s probably safe to assume today that Pitbull is on the top of his game. But how did he get there?
Listening to any of Pitbull’s songs, one underlying theme you will notice quickly are his many references to himself as “Mr. 305” and “Mr. Worldwide”. The interesting thing to note is that he has always referenced himself this way, even before becoming an international hit. Pitbull visualized himself becoming what he is today and now he is living it out. The lyrics of some of his early music spell out his intentions to “take it to the world.” 
Yes, it took a lot of hard work mixed with luck, but a key ingredient for his success, in my opinion, was knowing (and believing) early on what it is he was setting out to achieve. As one of the world’s foremost leadership authorities, Stephen Covey (who sadly just passed away the other day) stated in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Begin With the End in Mind.”
As half of 2012 is almost behind us, we all find ourselves reassessing our goals to date and formulating our plans for the next six months. But how do we see ourselves three, five and 10 years down the road? Sometimes we get caught up in our monthly goals that we forget the big picture—or we don’t have a big picture in mind at all. I’m personally in the midst of launching a new independent brokerage in Tampa, Fla., and am finding myself having to adapt this mindset to the plans for the new company as well:
What kind of market share am I looking to attain long term?
How many and what type of agents do I want to bring into the company?
Where do I see the company to be in five to ten years?
What are our long-term core values? Continue reading »
Hilary Hale Brown
By Hilary Hale Brown
One of the most fulfilling experiences a group can grow from is that of reaching its goals. In January of this calendar year, myself, the administrative executive of our board of REALTORS®, and members of the YPN committee set our promises to paper. These ranged from things such as a build for Habitat of Humanity in April for Fair Housing Month, to hosting a social mixer in November to honor TRLP graduates (Texas REALTOR® Leadership Program), to holding meetings once a quarter and participating in National YPN conference calls to stay in touch with our fellow chapters on a national level.
Tomorrow morning at a meeting with our board president and fellow committee chairmen, I will be proud to report that we have achieved over half of the goals set in January and are on target to meet the remaining goals by November.
As young real estate professionals, I believe it is important to remember what we are striving for and what we are setting out to accomplish. While social media and Internet marketing might be the driving force behind leads, they are not our goal, which is clients. While social mixers are an introduction to other young professionals, they are not our goal, which is education. My committee this year has been unrelenting in being result-based as our calendar filled, and I thank them for helping me remember that as I prepare for my meeting tomorrow. They remind me it is about quality not quantity, and that everything we do should have a purpose beyond ourselves and I thank them for this as well. Continue reading »
Chris Nichols
By Chris Nichols
I just got back from some meetings in Orlando, Florida. There are many beautiful golf courses in the area, and I had the opportunity to drive by Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and see this phenomenal golf hole.
Surrounded by water and sandwiched between two sand traps, this hole could easily be summed up as “challenging”! But is it really? Interestingly enough, the green is no different in size than a standard hole without the water and the the sand traps. In other words, it’s not any more difficult to get the ball on this green than on any other green at your local golf course.
Why then, when we look at this hole, do we automatically add the words challenging or difficult to its description? It lies with where our focus is centered. If we are focused on the goal or objective (aka the pin and hole), and not on the visual distractions (aka the sand traps and water waiting to gobble up your golf ball), it’s much easier to get the ball on this green. Golf course designers like to add these obstacles because they understand that the principle of target fixation will distract the golfer and increase the difficulty of the hole.
How often do we allow external challenges, Continue reading »
Jared James
By Jared James
In my last post I spoke about goal setting, and what we actually have to focus on in order to never set goals that we don’t meet again. I have received responses from many of you who feel that you have everything in order, and yet you still don’t seem to be getting what you want out of your business or life. Many times this is because we still have “inner conflicts” that have yet to be resolved. Watch the video below to see what I mean.
Jared James is the CEO and founder of Jared James Enterprises (JJE) and travels around North America speaking to and coaching REALTORS®. Connect with Jared at www.jaredjamestoday.com, on facebook.com/jaredjamestoday, or follow him on Twitter @jaredjamestoday.
Anand Patel
By Anand Patel
I received several emails from my last post on using a vision board to help engrain your personal and professional goals, which reminded me of a very important point I did not discuss – “the buy-in.” Many asked if your vision board should be kept private or shared with others. Well, that is entirely up to you.
What I can tell you from personal experience, there is nothing like having the support and encouragement of your loved ones in the pursuit of your goals, dreams, and aspirations. For that reason, I recommend sharing your board with your spouse, parent, children, best friend… whoever you confide in and rely on for support and strength. More than likely your goals involve them anyway so the sooner you get them to see how they are a part of your “big picture,” the sooner you will have their encouragement in achieving your goals.
Santorini, Greece
I shared my vision board with my wife and it didn’t hurt that I included a picture of Santorini, Greece (My wife and I have been wanting to visit Greece for some time now). I also incorporated the phrase “Family First” as a reminder to keep everything in perspective and how to allocate my time. That, among several other phrases and pictures on my board, helped her understand my “why.” There is a big difference between TELLING someone your goals versus having them SEE your goals first hand. The same effect it has on you, it will have on them.
So, it is entirely up to you if you want to keep your board private, but getting your support team to “buy-in” on it will definitely help you along your journey.
Good luck and Happy New Year!
Anand Patel is a broker licensed in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi with Elite REO Services and Elite Premier Properties. You can connect with Anand on Twitter: @anand_tampa; Facebook: www.facebook.com/livingelite; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anandpatel1 or on the Web at www.anandsblog.com.
Anand Patel
By Anand Patel
With 2011 coming to a close it seems everyone is talking, blogging, and tweeting about setting new goals for 2012.
Well, let’s not jump the gun! What about the goals you already set for yourself that you haven’t accomplished? Whatever you do, if they are worthy goals you truly wish to achieve, don’t abandon them just yet!
Before giving up and setting new goals, why not seriously look at what you have already set for yourself. Do you know what these goals of yours look like? I mean, deep down inside, can you visualize, feel, smell, and even taste these goals? If not, maybe your vision is getting bored, and it’s time to get your goals down on a VISION BOARD.
A vision board is just that — a board that helps you visualize your goals. I put my first vision board together this past August to help me really ingrain some of my short-term and long-term goals. If you’re a visual person like me, there is something very powerful and moving about having real pictures of what you hope to achieve laid out right in front of you to look at every day.
If this sounds like something you want to give a shot as we prepare for 2012, it’s very simple to get started:
- Get a poster board. I went to Staples and purchased a 20″ x 30″ sturdy board. Get whatever size you think will work best for you.
- Get away from any distractions. Find some quiet time, either late in the evening or early morning with a notepad and “brain dump” your current goals and all that you want to have, do, become over the next three, five, 10 or even 20 years. Think BIG and don’t hold yourself back. Don’t let your mind tell you that it’s too crazy if it’s something you REALLY want to achieve.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to help get the juices flowing:
- How much money do I want to make per year? $250,000? $800,000? $2 million? (Why Not! Think BIG!)
- What kind of clients do I want to work with? First-time home buyers? Investors? Retirees? Celebrities? Continue reading »
By Jared James
Jared James is the CEO and founder of Jared James Enterprises (JJE) and travels around North America speaking to and coaching REALTORS®. Connect with Jared at www.jaredjamestoday.com, on facebook.com/jaredjamestoday, or follow him on Twitter @jaredjamestoday.
Jared James
By Jared James
Patterns are a powerful tool available to you. But just like ignorance of a law or principle does not make that law or principle any less powerful… neither is our ignorance of our patterns. Everything that we are currently and everything that we will become and achieve is directly tied to the daily patterns we have created, consciously or subconsciously, in our lives and in our businesses. Check out my latest vlog which will help you take a pattern inventory and set goals for your future!
Jared James is the CEO and founder of Jared James Enterprises (JJE) and travels around North America speaking to and coaching REALTORS®. Connect with Jared at www.jaredjamestoday.com, on facebook.com/jaredjamestoday, or follow him on Twitter @jaredjamestoday.
Brooke Wolford
By Brooke Wolford
I have had the opportunity over the past couple of months to take a real look at myself and my business. I dug deep and picked at myself. I knew I could do better. I can tell you that taking that close of a look at my past wasn’t pretty.
I can honestly admit I made a ton of mistakes. I let my business decline and I lost the will to make it better. I let the current market conditions get the best of me. I was scared to take the necessary risks in order to improve my business. It was all on me. I caused this but I was more than ready to what I needed to in order to make it better.
In business in general, people tend to look at their mistakes and think that it’s temporary. You get in a rut and sometimes it’s tough to get out. It’s often a lot harder than most would assume. It’s important to look closely at your failures and decide whether or not you have truly learned from them. From there you can take the proper steps to improve and create some new energy to move forward.
In my case, I learned my lesson. I am moving on and taking a fresh look at my future. I have set goals and know how I can achieve them. I have the inspiration I need and it’s not something I will let slip away. I can not go back in time and change what I have done before. All I can do is move forward and know that if I stay focused, I will have the redemption I am looking for.
Brooke Wolford is a real estate practitioner with Coldwell Banker Burnet in Woodbury, Minn. Follow her blog at adventuresinrookierealestate.com.
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